A

ADA Forsyth

Independent nonprofit research on oral-systemic health

Overview

ADA Forsyth is an independent nonprofit research institute focused on improving oral health and reducing related systemic diseases. It conducts basic, translational, and clinical research, runs community-benefit programs for underserved groups, and operates Forsyth Faculty Associates, a private dental practice. The institute uses its expertise in oral medicine to generate biomedical insights and translate them into healthcare practices that improve people’s health. Founded more than a century ago to help disadvantaged children in Boston, its goal is to turn scientific findings into real-world improvements in oral and overall health worldwide.

Work here?Claim your company

About ADA Forsyth

Simplify's Rating
Why ADA Forsyth is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

BiotechnologyHealthcare

Company Size

N/A

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Cambridge, MA

Founded

N/A

Get referred to ADA Forsyth

See people who can refer or advise you

Simplify Jobs

Simplify's take

What believers are saying

  • NIH awarded ADA Forsyth $3.5 million in July 2026 for TMJ osteoarthritis research.
  • ADA Forsyth ranked No. 1 nationally in NIDCR funding after $11.8 million in FY2025.
  • June 2026 Epic deployment improves interoperability, patient care, and research throughput.

What critics are saying

  • ADA Forsyth depends on NIH and NIDCR funding; any 2027 cut hits research staffing.
  • Epic rollout with PDS Health Technologies adds implementation risk through 2026-2027.
  • If grant momentum stalls, ADA Forsyth loses talent, clinical volume, and relevance.

What makes ADA Forsyth unique

  • ADA Forsyth controls NIH-funded oral biology research and clinical translation in Somerville.
  • Epic integration at Forsyth Faculty Associates links dental care, research data, and real-world outcomes.
  • Its 2026 hires and dentech events reinforce a niche in oral-health innovation.

Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Paid Vacation
  • Flexible Work Hours
  • Professional Development Budget
  • Mental Health Support
  • Remote Work Options
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • 401(k) Company Match

Company News

Healthcare Industry Today
Nov 5th, 2026
OrisDX and the AAP Foundation partner to advance Community Oral Cancer screenings and oral-systemic health Integration.

OrisDX and the AAP Foundation partner to advance Community Oral Cancer screenings and oral-systemic health Integration. News originally published by November 5, 2026, 18:16 GMT Multi-year gifts from Ronald Tarrson and OrisDX will fund oral cancer screening, resident training, and education via the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative. CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, November 5, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - OrisDX, in collaboration with the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation (AAP Foundation), today announced a strategic partnership dedicated to accelerating early oral cancer detection and positioning periodontal health as a cornerstone of overall systemic wellness. The initiative is anchored by multi-year financial commitments totaling $75,000, including contributions from The Ronald E. Tarrson Family and OrisDX. These funds will directly support the expansion of oral cancer screening and multidisciplinary educational outreach under the AAP Foundation's Levi-Richman Integration Initiative. The collaborative funding structure addresses critical needs in early diagnosis and cross-specialty education between periodontics, otolaryngology, and medical oncology: | Community Oral Cancer Screening Micro-Grants - Dedicated funding will establish up to 60 micro-grants ($500 each) over two years for periodontal residency programs and private practices to organize local oral cancer screening events in partnership with the Head & Neck Cancer Alliance. | Specialized Resident & Practitioner Training - Building on the ADA Forsyth Institute strategic partnership with OrisDX announced Oct 13, 2026, the AAP Foundation with assistance from the Head & Neck Cancer Alliance will host training sessions to equip periodontists and dental residents with tools and patient care resources to conduct oral cancer screenings. | Otolaryngology & Medical Outreach - Support will fund educational outreach, custom web resources, and a dedicated booth presence at major medical gatherings, promoting dialogue across periodontology, oral oncology, and otolaryngology. | Advocacy & Research - Remaining funds will support unrestricted organizational priorities and multidisciplinary oral-systemic research grants awarded by the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative. "For decades, the periodontal community has stood at the forefront of preserving oral health and recognizing the profound link between oral and systemic wellness. Periodontists are uniquely positioned to identify early, indeterminate changes before they become life-altering diagnoses. Bringing an objective, non-invasive salivary diagnostic like Oro Lesion to our specialty is not just a technological leap - it equips clinicians with the definitive clarity needed to intervene early, preserve function, and save lives." - Ronald Tarrson, AAP Foundation Past President and Member of the Council of the Rustandy Center for Social Innovation at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Bridging Periodontal Health and Systemic Disease Periodontal disease is increasingly recognized as an independent risk marker and putative risk factor for head and neck cancers, while cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy face significantly elevated burdens of severe periodontitis. By enabling proactive screening programs, the partnership aims to capture early-stage lesions and improve long-term patient outcomes. "As the dentists who specialize in the supporting structures and soft tissues of the mouth, periodontists and perio residents are uniquely qualified to conduct these screenings as part of the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance's ongoing program. We also know from the Alliance itself that up to 15% of all inquiries to its patient navigator service are seeking qualified dental professionals to treat patients during cancer treatments or following surgery. We are deeply grateful to Mr. Tarrson and OrisDX for enabling this collaboration that will stimulate early detection of oral cancers while also championing periodontal health as the oral-systemic link among otolaryngologists, oncologists, and head and neck surgeons." - Dr. Christopher Richardson, AAP Foundation President About the Levi-Richman Integration Initiative The Levi-Richman Integration Initiative is an AAP Foundation program working to make periodontal health an integral part of the conversation about systemic health. Established through the support of Dr. Colin Richman and Patty and Dr. Paul Levi with additional major support from PDS Health, the Initiative equips physicians and care teams with the latest evidence linking periodontal disease to systemic conditions and strengthens collaboration with periodontists to support more informed, connected patient care. Nathan Steltzer OrisDX Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. Healthcare Industry Today do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Forsyth
Jul 16th, 2026
ADA Forsyth stem cell team awarded $3.5 million by NIH to explore new treatment methods for TMJ osteoarthritis.

ADA Forsyth stem cell team awarded $3.5 million by NIH to explore new treatment methods for TMJ osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease in which the protective cartilage that provides cushion in joints gradually wears away, causing pain and decreased mobility. Osteoarthritis in the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ - affects 5-10% of the U.S. population. TMJ osteoarthritis may begin with mild jaw discomfort, stiffness, clicking or grinding, and pain during chewing or opening the mouth. As the disease progresses, it can cause persistent severe pain, restricted jaw movement or locking, headaches, ear-area pain, difficulty eating and speaking, and substantial impairment of daily activities. Treatments for TMJ osteoarthritis are limited, often involving replacement of tissue with inorganic materials. A new ADA Forsyth Institute research project aims to develop novel directions for TMJ osteoarthritis treatment, focusing on stem cells and regenerative treatments. The project, funded by an NIDCR R01 grant of $3.5 million over five years, explores potential new regenerative treatment targets for TMJ osteoarthritis. "TMJ osteoarthritis limits essential functions like speaking, eating, or talking, and new methods for regenerative treatments can make a big difference in quality of life for patients," said Takamitsu Maruyama, Ph.D., the award's principal investigator. "Building on our previous research, this project could create new insight to treating the TMJ and other joints." Dr. Maruyama, Assistant Professor at ADA Forsyth, is a stem cell biologist who focuses on understanding how endogenous stem cells can regenerate the body's natural tissue. In this project, Dr. Maruyama and his research team explore the role of a class of non-coding RNAs, known as microRNAs, in the regeneration or degradation of tissue in the unique cartilage structure of the TMJ. Thirty years ago, non-coding RNAs appeared to serve little purpose to the scientific community. Scientists at the time put their focus on the 2% of RNA in the human genome that code proteins; non-coding RNAs were mostly ignored as little more than biological debris. However, microRNAs later became a stronger focus for biologists thanks to improved research technology and influential studies such as those completed by Drs. Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, who were honored with a Nobel Prize in 2024 for their discovery of microRNAs during the 1980s and 90s. "Now, we look at microRNAs as important to understanding the way cells regulate growth and keep the body healthy," Dr. Maruyama said. "If they weren't important, they would not have survived evolutionarily." Dr. Maruyama's team has removed specific types of microRNAs in previous experiments, demonstrating that without them, tissue does not regenerate the same way. "We are excited about Dr. Maruyama's innovative epigenetic approach to TMJ osteoarthritis," said Ben Wu, D.D.S., Ph.D., ADA Forsyth's Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer. "By uncovering novel mechanisms and identifying new regenerative targets, this research has the potential to advance treatment beyond symptom management toward restoration the body's own natural tissues and provide lasting relief for patients."

Dentistry Today
Jun 18th, 2026
PDS Health Technologies powers Epic integration at ADA Forsyth.

PDS Health Technologies powers Epic integration at ADA Forsyth. * June 18, 2026 * 5 minutes read * 5 hours ago Expanded technology and operational support will help strengthen medical-dental integration, improve patient care and expand research capabilities The ADA Forsyth Institute recently announced it has selected PDS Health Technologies to implement its dental-optimized instance of the electronic health record system Epic, used at the nation's leading hospitals and health systems, at its in-house dental clinic, Forsyth Faculty Associates. The clinic is the hub for ADA Forsyth's globally renowned Center for Clinical and Translational Research and the home base for its community dentistry programs. It provides the essential clinical foundation that connects ADA Forsyth's foundational science to patient care, helping ensure that scientific advances remain clinically relevant and can be translated more quickly into real-world impact. Widely recognized for its interoperability, Epic will strengthen medical-dental integration across ADA Forsyth's clinical and research environment. The platform will support a more complete view of patient health information, improve care coordination across settings, and create a stronger operational foundation for patient care and long-term growth. "We are 'walking the walk' on medical-dental integration by implementing Epic, a platform optimized for integrating dental and overall health," said ADA Forsyth CEO Wenyuan Shi, PhD. "This work will help strengthen patient care at Forsyth Faculty Associates while also supporting our mission to advance oral health, overall health, and evidence-based innovation." Importantly, Epic Cosmos will enable ADA Forsyth clinician-scientists to access a dataset containing more than 300 million unique, de-identified patient records and over 16 billion encounters across participating health systems. This scale will allow researchers to explore outcomes and compare patterns of care in ways that would be difficult to achieve within a single institution. "Evidence-based dentistry and meta-analysis remain essential to synthesizing the strongest published science into clear clinical guidance," said Ben Wu, DDS, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operating Officer at ADA Forsyth. "Epic Cosmos adds another important dimension by allowing us to examine real-world patterns, care pathways, and outcomes drawn from everyday clinical practice in nearly real time. We can find signals before they appear in publications or systematic reviews. This capability is highly synergistic with ADA Forsyth's rich tradition in foundational and translational science." Epic will also support ADA Forsyth's century-long mission to improve access to care. Stronger technology infrastructure will improve ADA Forsyth's capacity to deliver care at scale, reduce clinical hurdles and administrative burden, and maintain clinicians' focus on patients. These innovations help ADA Forsyth build a more informed, connected community with better access to care. Forsyth scientists and others have demonstrated important, undeniable connections between oral health and overall health. Oral health is directly linked to many systemic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, and more. In some cases, oral health treatment can significantly improve systemic health by reducing inflammation in the body and addressing risk factors. Integrating dental and medical care can support earlier identification of health risks, more complete treatment planning, and more coordinated care for patients. The broader collaboration also aims to enhance the patient experience through expert operational support to accelerate adoption of the many Epic features and modules. Through MyChart, Epic's patient portal, patients can access dental information using the same devices and familiar digital tools they already rely on for their medical care, giving patients and care teams a clearer view of changes over time. To support implementation more broadly, PDS Health Technologies will also provide operational consulting, integrated imaging workflows, financing technologies, and revenue cycle management services. Together, these capabilities can help clinicians access diagnostic information more seamlessly, help patients understand their financial options and access care when they need it, and improve operational efficiency so providers and staff can focus more fully on serving patients. "We are proud to support ADA Forsyth with a partnership that goes beyond electronic health records alone," said Preston Raulerson, President of PDS Health Technologies. "By combining our dental-optimized instance of Epic with operational support, revenue cycle management, imaging, and financial technologies, this engagement creates an incredible foundation for sustainable, high-quality, high-performance integrated care. Pairing that with ADA Forsyth's clinical and scientific leadership, we have a unique opportunity to make an industry-wide impact on oral health even as we simultaneously improve organization-level performance." About the ADA Forsyth Institute The ADA Forsyth Institute is a top-tier, NIH-funded nonprofit research institute focusing on dental and craniofacial exploration, the connection between oral and overall health, and playing a convening role in oral health innovation. Founded in 1910 as the Forsyth Dental Infirmary for Children and later known as the Forsyth Dental Center and then The Forsyth Institute, the organization has played a key role in advancing dental care. In October 2023, Forsyth integrated with the American Dental Association. ADA Forsyth powers the dental profession through cutting-edge basic research, creative translational science, and the development of new technology. Consistent with ADA Forsyth's founding mission, the ForsythKids mobile dental program continues to serve children in need. About PDS Health Technologies PDS Health Technologies delivers scalable health technology, revenue cycle services, consulting, and operations management for dental and medical organizations advancing integrated, connected care. Its dental-optimized performance platform aligns workflows, interoperability, data analytics, and patient experience to unite care teams, streamline documentation, and strengthen operational and financial performance. In addition to its performance platform and revenue cycle management services, the business provides staffing and advisory services to help partners optimize their technology, elevate patient and provider experience, and improve overall performance. For more information, visit pdshealthtechnologies.com. About PDS Health PDS Health continues the journey started by Pacific Dental Services(R) in 1994, with a vision to redefine healthcare through the integration of dental and medical services. Its approach, centered on the connection between oral health and overall health, aims to create healthier, happier patients and set new benchmarks in the healthcare industry. As a leading provider of integrated healthcare support, the company delivers a broad spectrum of services to dental, dental specialties, and medical providers, enhancing operations and care delivery for clinicians across the U.S. For more information about PDS Health and its vision, visit pdshealth.com. Epic(R) is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation.

Forsyth
Jun 8th, 2026
ADA Forsyth ranks 54th in Cure Innovation Index.

ADA Forsyth ranks 54th in Cure Innovation Index. The ADA Forsyth Institute is the only dental research institute named to the Cure Innovation Index, the first evidence-based ranking of U.S. biomedical research institutions. The index, which sought to identify, measure and evaluate what it takes to turn scientific discovery into real healthcare solutions, ranked 303 institutions across two lists: 243 universities in one and 60 institutes and centers in the other. ADA Forsyth is No. 54 on the institutes and centers list. The index looked at more than 6,000 institutions, evaluating each based on research capabilities, which assess the scientific infrastructure and output that make discovery possible; entrepreneurial readiness, which measures how well an institution prepares and supports its researchers to commercialize their work; and market translation, which measures how effectively an institution converts that science into commercial and clinical impact. The rankings drew on more than a dozen federal and commercial databases, an original audit of all institutions, and surveys of more than 3,000 scientists, industry leaders and biomedical experts.

McHenry County Dental Society
May 28th, 2026
ADA Forsyth ranks No. 1 nationally in NIDCR funding to dental institutions.

ADA Forsyth ranks No. 1 nationally in NIDCR funding to dental institutions. May 28, 2026 ADA Forsyth Institute researchers were awarded more than $11.8 million in grants in fiscal year 2025. Stay Connected General information.

Recently Posted Jobs

Sign up to get curated job recommendations

ADA Forsyth is Hiring for 8 Jobs on Simplify!

Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today

Don't see your dream role? Check out thousands of other roles on Simplify.Browse all jobs